Wayne Bristow: I have a list of things that I need to do and no determination to attempt any of them."

I’ve realized, I’m not burning out, I’m having days when I wake up and say, “I just don’t want to do anything today”.
August 15th, 2017, I received an email from the editor of PositiveLite asking if I had something for publication, that it’s been a while since my last submission. I haven’t responded to the email yet, deciding I would write something to explain why instead. I sat here most of the day and tried to think of a place to start, and it honestly became a struggle.
I

But self care can be hard to come by when those around you are unsupportive, as Wayne relates.

I know it’s been a while since my last blog. I have shared my story, all of it, I think. My health has been good but I have a total physical to pass next week so that I can keep my bragging rights. I wanted to write about attending the first part of the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) End Game conference last month but I’m still trying to digest the new research findings for aging with HIV.
I used to look at aging from the side of possibly going into the healthcare system, in a facil

Our L. A. guy Kengi on finding a voice and empowerment through art

As I sit down to type this article I’m smiling, listening to ‘Higher Than This’ by Ledisi, while sitting inside my gallery. Yeah, I know right? My gallery. I still giggle every single time I say it.
As many of you know my life has always been filled with music, art and photography and as I’ve said many times before, photography has been and still is my therapy. During homelessness photography was my voice. It spoke loud and clear for me, allowing me to raise awareness for many issues

Our LA guy Kengi takes on a photography assignment which opens his eyes to the work of Christie's Place, an agency serving women living with HIV and their families.

As someone living with HIV, I’m always drawn to personal stories from people I can relate to, but those stories are very hard to find in mainstream HIV media. I’m not interested in reading stories that have more to do with fundraising efforts or advertisements. I love real life stories from the person who has experienced it. So I spend a lot of time reading personal blogs, watching YouTube or speaking to people I meet on the street.
As a photographer I’m always drawn to and interested

Wayne Bristow enters a photography competition and says “this whole experience affirmed my belief that no matter what I have been through or going through now, there will always be someone less fortunate".

I have a wonderful group of peers who really know me – from the things I like (bacon) to my hobby (photography). Last December one peer was sitting on a committee with another organization that had organized an art show/contest called ‘Hope and Help: Overcoming Trauma’ and he suggested that I enter. I asked him to email me the entry information and I would take a look at it.
I downloaded the flyer, familiarized myself with the requirements and decided I would enter the contest. I coul

A (Valentine’s) day in the life of Wayne Bristow

Heart of Stone – photo by Wayne Bristow
Valentine’s Day. It’s not like I didn’t know this day was coming. On social media it’s impossible to avoid the barrage of messaging between all my followers.
I could have made plans, maybe ask someone out, but who? I could have asked around to see if anyone was having a get together or party but why should I always have to impose myself into the plans of others. So I do what I’m used to doing, turn it into a ME day, do what I want to do and

The world of photo apps. Wayne Bristow says, “it's 2016 and digital photography is here to stay. It’s time to break the rules and create some art.” So get out your phone.

Some serious photographers absolutely hate smartphone photography. They look down too on people who use the ‘auto’ feature to take pictures on your DSLR cameras - the only way to be creative is by doing things manually, they say. But if I followed that advice I would have missed 99 percent of the photos I’ve taken.
When the pros ask me what f.stop setting I have used for a photo, I love the look they give me when I say, “I don’t know, I used the auto setting”. The only thing more

It’s that time of year when editor Bob Leahy faces his biggest challenge – to get his three dogs to pose at least semi-artfully to wish you happy holidays and a simply great new year from all of us here on PositiveLite.com.

2015. For the nth year in a row we pulled it off. It was a good time full of ups and downs, good behaviour, bad behaviour, rewards and disappointments -and the occasional scoop.
No we are not talking about PositiveLite.com’s year in review but my annual attempt to capture our three pooches - Ruby, Dougall and Dudley in something resembling a festive mood.
And “resembling” is right. Those three dogs may be looking straight towards the camera and with their red scarves and such may l

Wayne Bristow visits with PositiveLite.com editor Bob Leahy on Bob’s home turf and says “in a small town there are no strangers, just friends you haven’t met yet”.

When it comes to holidays, I don’t have the world wide adventures to tell like others do. I recently wrote about taking my first flight at the age tender age of 61, the destination a mere two hours from where I live. Everywhere else I have been could be deemed as a ‘stay-cation’.
Even during my final years in the factory I acquired five weeks paid vacation time but when holidays came up, I would work at least three of them. The other two weeks I would wait to take them in the fall when

From CATIE’s The Positive side, a visual representation of celebrating ten years of living with HIV

This article first appeared in the Positive Side, here.
Une version française est disponible ici.
On the eve of the 10th anniversary of my HIV diagnosis, I have come to realize that in the wonderful world of HIV, society is increasingly divided into two: HIV-negative people and us, the HIV-positive ones!
I don’t mean to sound “negaphobic”; quite the opposite—I’m a firm believer in embracing our negative brothers and sisters. But sometimes HIV-negative people can lack a sense